Official: AC Milan confirm Theo Hernandez has joined Al-Hilal in permanent deal

For the second part of my post I’ll be a bit more critical but offer balance. First let’s deal with the bad. Theo had major attitude issues on the field. I’m not talking about the cooking break which imo has been blown waaay out of proportion (just came on the field/helped tied the game/discussing moves with Leao/if coach needed them over then I dunno just call them over/imo way overblown). I’m talking about engaging in conversation with Dodo while the game is being played around him, the SECOND penalty in penalty-gate (first pen I can understand as he was captain but the second pen he needed to step in as captain), and needless actions to get himself cards, including reds, that is beyond a player of his experience. These incidents can’t be downplayed and does reflect poorly in his final season. His body language and efforts on occasions add to this.

However, he also started many games looking tired from the get go. A big reason for that is fatigue. Accumulated fatigue. As BOOM BOOM pointed out in a different article what I’ve been saying for quite some time now, Theo’s minutes by far exceeds that of any of his peers. I mean by HUGE amounts. He also has a 95% or more utilization rate per game, meaning when he played he plays nearly almost the entire game on virtually all occasions (hardly subbing). I’ll also add to BOOM BOOM’s stat (based on footy stats.org) that including Intl competitions Theo has about 4800+ minutes or 50+ games in his body than the nearest peer, Reinjders, across the last 4-5 years. Meaning Theo had a whole a$$ season more in him at the beginning of last season than everyone else. So, no, a game here or there of rest isn’t going to cut it. He needed an actual reliable backup who could have split his minutes. Remember when ppl said we’re running Deers into the ground due to overplaying him? Yea, that’s Theo for 4 straight seasons but this was the first time for Tijji. It would have been nice if we offered the same compassion as we did with Tijji, right? Fatigue matters, it plays into making poor decisions.
The other part of the Theo equation is the contract situation. Often I read on this site that if an employee performs as badly as Theo did this season he would be fired, right? Kool, np. And what about when you as a worker puts in major work for the last few years, is one of the best in your position worldwide, the replacement for your position is not adequate so you have to work double shifts, asked for an increase in wage that’s commensurate with your performance and that of your peers, and then get offered something less than what you’re currently making? You were underpaid for years as one of the best but you stayed because of the bond you had with the company and its customers, u guys get it now? That whole situation was done in poor taste imo. He’s still of age where he should be on the upward trajectory of earnings. And I can understand why he became disheartened with the project.

Speaking of which the next point has to be the project in and of itself which is a shabby one at best. Each year, you lose a teammate wondering if it’s going to be you this time. The club president speaks of top 4 and not trophies and you’re in your prime years. Plus the people who brought you here and you won something with (M&P) are gone with the former being ousted unceremoniously even as a club hero and no one says they want you to stay here. All these things matter. They affect the psychology of players. Some deal with it easier than others. Even Mike and Puli seem jaded, with rumours even they want out too. However, I will say that he’s a professional football player and as bad as things are around you, changes happen all the time and you need to play and act professionally. That is a part where I think he failed badly.

We need to stop all of this bashing of Theo. Lots of you here on the site are so happy he’s gone it bewilders me. Like you guys missed the other 5 years or something . The same ones who are happy when they sell players and are happy with the new shiny toy replacement are the same ones that are missing mid season when the whole thing goes to rubble 💩.

6 seasons, one bad and on the balance of it we want him gone ?? Everyone did badly last year (spare a couple), it’s why we were 8th. We know what he’s capable of. I thought having a new director and coach would have reset things and we could have worked to get him up to the player we know he can be. He can single handedly win games which is rare for an attacker much less a full back….and WE had him in our team smh 🤦‍♂️.
As a fan of the club for decades and a fan of the beautiful game, love your players especially exceptional ones because when they’re gone they’re incredibly hard to replace. And I would say to embrace your core players more and protest vigorously when the club wants to sell them, because the team and its ability to win things is built on a strong stable foundation.
But if it seemed his time was up at the club, then it is what it is and I can see why there’s a genuine argument for that. For those of you who want to read the lengthy post, thanks much but if you’re replying, please take the entire post into consideration and not just snip out bits and pieces to make it look like I haven’t made contrasting points because it was meant to be a holistic view.